Illini Claim 85-57 Win Over The Citadel

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Published on November 21 2019 7:13 am
Last Updated on November 22 2019 9:45 am
Written by Millie Lange

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Kofi Cockburn scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Illinois past The Citadel 85-57 on Wednesday night.

It was the fourth double-double for Cockburn, a 7-foot freshman. His 17 rebounds broke a school single-game record for a freshman, previously held by Deon Thomas (16). Cockburn is the only freshman in the country with four double-doubles through five games.

Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili each added 16 points for Illinois.

Kaelon Harris led The Citadel (1-4) with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Cockburn had eight points and 11 rebounds as Illinois led 34-20 at the half. The Illini held the Bulldogs to 7 of 36 shooting (19%) in the first half.
The Illini scored 51 points in the second half while holding the Bulldogs to 37.

Up Next

Illinois hosts Hampton on Saturday, Nov. 23, the third of five-games at the State Farm Center (7 pm CT).

Team Notes

• Illinois moved to 4-1 to start the season

• Illinois played The Citadel for the first time in program history.

• Illinois outrebounded The Citadel by 20 (55-35). The Illini have outrebounded opponents 232-143 in the first five games for a +17.8 margin.

• Illinois' 55 rebounds were its most since 2000 (55 vs. No. 6 Maryland 11/21/2000 in Maui). 

Individual Notes

• Freshman Kofi Cockburn had 18 points and 17 rebounds, breaking the Illinois record for rebounds by a freshman set by Deon Thomas (16 at Memphis, 12/29/1990) and Damir Krupalija (16 at Indiana 1/3/1999). Cockburn is just the third power conference player this season to have 17+ point and 17+ rebounds in a game. He had 10 rebounds in the first 10:34 of game time on his way to his fourth double-double in the first five games. Cockburn is tied for the national lead in double-doubles and has the most in the nation among freshmen. He is the first freshman in the nation to have four double-doubles in the first five games since Deandre Ayton (Arizona) and Brandon McCoy (UNLV) in 2017-18. Cockburn is the first Big Ten freshman with four double-doubles in the first five games of a season since Indiana's Noah Vonleh in 2013-14.